Calgary's main attraction

What is Calgary's most popular attraction? The Calgary Stampede, you say? Flames games, perhaps? The Calgary Zoo? Wrong, wrong and wrong.

According to an article in Fast Forward Magazine, in 2010 the Calgary Public Library system "had more visits than the Stampede, Calgary Zoo, Heritage Park, Science Centre, recreation arenas and all professional sporting events combined." It circulated more items than any other system in North America except those of Toronto, New York and Los Angeles.

For a city sometimes perceived as redneck, we Calgarians do surprising things. We elect the most progressive mayor in the country and we read our brains out. Libraries are one of the finest measures of civilization and on that score at least, we are apparently quite a civilized bunch.